Comments on: Saab 60th – Saab 99

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:55:58 +0000

okay, how did I misspell that? I meant to write “tightly-knit”.

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:46:48 +0000

I’m not gay and I don’t claim to speak for the gay community, but as in any tight-night community they often have tastes in common.

SAAB (and Subaru) are cars many gay people choose to drive. Maybe the average gay person has a more attuned eye for design and style than the average “straight”, I don’t know. I would also suspect they don’t feel a need to follow the mainstream regarding their purchasing choices.

As you know, there is such a thing as a gay “lifestyle”. Is it a generalization to say people interested in country western music like to drive pickup trucks? :-0

By: eggsngrits

eggsngrits — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:30:38 +0000

I still don’t know how you can have a ‘gay’ automotive publication. What does who you choose as a sexual partner have anything to do with cars? I just don’t get it.

By: Drew B

Drew B — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:42:30 +0000

Dare I say that I have a ’70 ‘steel bumper’ 99, and I can’t believe how advanced it was for the time. It seems light years ahead of the 95/96 models, which somehow managed to struggle through until 1980. The inline four cylinder drives much better and more smootly than the V’s, although I can’t for the life of me see why Saab persisted with the freewheel feature that seems so redundant. Interior design and comfort is great, and bodywork is very solid and pleasing to the eye. Unfortunately, I think rust claimed most of these early cars, which I believe only received electopriming after the introduction of the rubber bumper model in 1972.

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:10:34 +0000

Thanks for the info, lance. I didn’t know any of that.

Ted Y: you mention the center-mounted ignition. This reminded me that when I was driving this car with Mr. Vester he told me that he has a copy of the old brochure from when this car was new and he was looking through it. He was surprised that there was no mention whatsoever of the unorthodox position of the ignition switch! It’s as if it was so natural that SAAB completely forgot to mention it in the literature.

By: lance

lance — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:30:45 +0000

My first car and first saab was this model of the 99 mk1- with teh ‘coaming’ style dashboard- just like in an old biplane or early fighter – with a ridge around the edge into the sides.

The headrests were a Sixten Sason design -known as ‘art deco’ style, they first appeared around 1968 on the other Saab models as well as the very first USA spec 99s. They were options rarely offered to the European market.

The Us spec headlamps on this early bird do not look too bad after all these years. Hey , and thats a Saab 96 clock in the centre of the dash

By: Ted Y

Ted Y — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 07:47:40 +0000

That 1970 Saab 99 really causes the memories to come pouring back. My first new Saab (not my first Saab) was a 1969 99. It was a sea green color with a black interior, but it’s the shape and flowing contours that defined this car and made it so unique for its time, and make it so memorable. I still remember that first test drive, the quiet , smooth ride, yet with accurate precise steering, the wraparound windshield, stainless steel bumpers, see-through headrests, the deep dash, the airplane style air vents, the center-mounted ignition switch, roomy comfortable interior. I’m too deep into Saabs with all that I’ve got right now, but someday, I would like to add one of these to my collection.